작품 상세

A large Yup'ik coiled beach grass basket with dyed seal gut geometric false embroidery and a tall lid with an elongated finial, made by a basketmaker from Nelson Island, Alaska. An accompanying note provides historical context: grasses are selected from July to October, spread on the ground for 10-15 days, cleaned, and then hung to dry for two months or more. The drying process requires careful protection from moisture, as getting wet changes the grass color to brownish-yellow with black dots. Modern dyes use colored paper boiled with the grass for bright colors. Older generations traditionally used natural materials like berries, shrub skin, tea, and soot for dyes. Measures approximately 9.5" in diameter x 14" tall.